Frame chair for easy stacking and cascading

ABSTRACT

The frame chair has a metal frame containing two loop stands and a number of lateral beams connecting the two loop stands. A seat is flatly and fixedly placed on the loop stands and a back rest is held by two back columns extended from the loop stands. A first connecting block is configured beneath a front section of the left loop stand and a back section of the right loop stand, respectively. A second connecting block is configured beneath a back section of the left loop stand and a front section of the right loop stand, respectively. The first connecting block has a first hook and the second connecting block has a second hook where the hooks have corresponding and matched shapes for engaging with each other. As such, two aligned frame chairs could be locked reliably together.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to frame chairs, and more particular to a frame chair allowing easy stacking and side-by-side cascading in a row.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A conventional frame chair usually has a metal frame consisting of two stands arranged in parallel, a seat flatly placed on the stands, and a back rest configured between back columns extended from the stands.

In many applications such as in a conference room or meeting hall, a large number of frame chairs have to be aligned in rows. The conventional frame chairs lack appropriate means for this alignment. Therefore, usually, they are set and adjusted manually, which is rather time consuming. Additionally, the alignment would be messed up after some use and manual re-arrangement has to be exercised again.

An additional drawback of the conventional frame chairs is that, when they are not used and has to be stacked together, the stacked chairs usually take up significant space and, more importantly, they could easily topple and not convenient to move.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A frame chair according to the present invention has a metal frame containing two loop stands and a number of lateral beams connecting the two loop stands. A seat is flatly and fixedly placed on the loop stands and a back rest is held by two back columns extended from the loop stands. A first connecting block is configured beneath a front section of the left loop stand and a back section of the right loop stand, respectively. A second connecting block is configured beneath a back section of the left loop stand and a front section of the right loop stand, respectively. The first connecting block has a first hook and the second connecting block has a second hook where the hooks have corresponding and matched shapes and positions for engaging with each other. As such, two aligned frame chairs could be locked reliably together.

A number of support plates are configured along the top edges of the loop stands which the seat is rested upon. The seat's lateral edges are bended downward to form curves rims, wrapping the top edges of the loop stands. From the seat's bottom side and adjacent the curved rims, positioning rods are provided for embedding into positioning holes on the support plates, and positioning holes are provided for receiving bolts running through the support plates.

Indentations are formed at the front lateral corners of the seat and the seat's front edge is curved downward. When frame chairs of the present invention are stacked, the indentations of the frame chairs beneath could receive the frames of the frame chairs above. As such, a large number of frame chairs could be stacked for a limited height.

Along the back rest's left and right edges, two tubes are provided so as to receive the back columns, respectively. After the back rest is installed on the back columns, bolts could be screwed laterally through positioning holes on the tubes and the back columns so that the back rest is fixedly and reliably joined to the frame.

A through hole is configured in an upper central region of the back rest to allow easy handling of the frame chair single-handedly.

The first connecting block's first hook could have a L shape pointing forward and the second connecting block's second hook could have a L shape pointing backward. As such, the first and second hooks could engage together so that neighboring frame chairs could be locked reliably together.

The first and second connecting blocks have open tubular channels, respectively, for the embedment of the bottom edges of the loop stands. The channels have protrusions along lateral edges of their top openings, respectively. Correspondingly, the bottom edges of the loop stands have indentations for receiving the protrusions. When the connecting blocks are snapped onto the loop stands, the protrusions engage the indentations, thereby securely locking them together.

The present invention has the following advantages. First, a large number of frame chair could be easily and neatly aligned in a row. Secondly, each frame chair could be conveniently handled by single-handedly. In addition, the frame chairs could be tightly stacked so that they take up less space and are easier to transport and move.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective break-down diagram showing the various components of a frame chair according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram showing the installation of a first connecting block to a left loop stand of the frame chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing the installation of a second connecting block to a right loop stand of the frame chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram showing the frame chair of FIG. 1 after its assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram showing the frame chair of FIG. 4, emphasizing its loop stands and connecting blocks.

FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram showing three frame chairs of FIG. 4 are aligned in a row and locked together by their respective connecting blocks.

FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram showing the engagement between two neighboring frame chairs' connecting blocks.

FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram showing three frame chairs of FIG. 4 are stacked together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a frame chair according to an embodiment of the present invention has a metal frame 10 that contains a left loop stand hand a right loop stand 11 b, and a number of lateral beams 12 across and with their two ends connecting the two loop stands 11 a and 11 b. From an upper back corner of each loop stand 11 a or 11 b, a back column 13 is extended upward and tilted slightly to the back. The frame chair further contains a seat 20 flatly and fixedly placed on the loop stands 11 a and 11 b's top edges, and a back rest 30 held by the two back columns 13. A first connecting block 40 is configured beneath a front section of the left loop stand 11 a's bottom edge and a back section of the right loop stand lib's bottom edge, respectively. An L-shaped hook 41 is laterally extended from each first connecting block 40, pointing towards the front. A second connecting block 50 is configured beneath a back section of the left loop stand 11 a's bottom edge and a front section of the right loop stand 11 b's bottom edge, respectively. An L-shaped hook 51 is laterally extended from each second connecting block 50, pointing towards the back. When two frame chairs thus described are aligned side by side, the hooks 41 and 51 of neighboring first and second connecting blocks 40 and 50 engage with each other to lock the two frame chairs reliably together.

A number of support plates 14 are configured between the lateral beams 12 and the top edges of the loop stands 11 a and 11 b, and along the top edges of the loop stands 11 a and 11 b, which the seat 20 is rested upon. The seat 20's lateral edges are bended downward to form curves rims 21, wrapping the top edges of the loop stands 11 a and 11 b. From the seat 20's bottom side and adjacent the curved rims 21, positioning rods 22 are provided for embedding into positioning holes 15 on the support plates 14, and positioning holes 23 are provided for receiving bolts running through the support plates 14.

Indentations 24 are formed at the front lateral corners of the seat 20 and the seat 20's front edge is curved downward. When frame chairs of the present invention are stacked, the indentations 24 of the frame chairs beneath could receive the frames 10 of the frame chairs above. As such, a large number of frame chairs of the present invention could be stacked for a limited height. In addition, the gravity center of the stacked frame chairs does not alter much as more frame chairs are stacked. Therefore, the stacked frame chairs take up less space and are easier to transport and move.

Along the back rest 30's left and right edges, two tubes 31 are provided so as to receive the back columns 13, respectively. After the back rest 30 is installed on the back columns 13, bolts could be screwed laterally through positioning holes 311 and 131 on the tubes 31 and the back columns 13 so that the back rest 30 is fixedly and reliably joined to the frame 10.

A through hole 32 is configured in an upper central region of the back rest 30 to allow easy handling of the frame chair single-handedly.

As described earlier, the first connecting block 40's hook 41 and the second connecting block 50's hook 51 have corresponding and matched shapes for engaging with each other. As such, two aligned frame chairs could be locked reliably together. Please note that the hooks 41 and 51 are not limited to the L shape described above.

The first and second connecting blocks 40 and 50 have open tubular channels 42 and 52, respectively, for the embedment of the bottom edges of the loop stands 11 a and 11 b. To further make the connecting blocks 40 and 50 tightly and reliably joined to the loop stands 11 a and 11 b, the channels 42 and 52 have protrusions 421 and 521 along lateral edges of their top openings, respectively. Correspondingly, the bottom edges of the loop stands 11 a and 11 b have indentations 111 for receiving the protrusions 421 and 521. When the connecting blocks 40 and 50 are snapped onto the loop stands 11 a and 11 b, the protrusions 421 and 521 engage the indentations 111, thereby securely locking them together.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A frame chair, comprising a frame having a left loop stand, a right loop stand parallel to said left loop stand, a plurality of lateral beams configured laterally across and between said left and right loop stands, and two back columns extended from upper back corners of said loop stands, respectively; a seat fixedly configured on top of said left and right loop stands; a back rest fixedly configured between said back columns; two first connecting blocks configured beneath said left and right loop stands, respectively; and two second connecting blocks configured beneath said left and right loop stands, respectively; wherein each first connecting block has a laterally outward extended first hook; each second connecting block has a laterally outward extended second hook; said first and second hooks have corresponding and matched shapes and positions for engaging with each other so that two aligned said frame chairs are locked reliably together.
 2. The frame chair according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of support plates are configured along top edges of said loop stands beneath said seat; positioning rods beneath said seat are provided for embedding into positioning holes on said support plates, and positioning holes are provided beneath said seat for receiving bolts running through said support plates.
 3. The frame chair according to claim 1, wherein said seat's lateral edges are bended downward to form curves rims, wrapping said loop stands' top edges.
 4. The frame chair according to claim 1, wherein an indentation is formed at each lateral corner of said seat.
 5. The frame chair according to claim 1, wherein, along said back rest's left and right edges, two tubes are provided so as to receive said back columns, respectively; after said back rest is installed on said back columns, bolts are screwed laterally through positioning holes on said tubes and said back columns so that said back rest is fixedly and reliably joined to said frame.
 6. The frame chair according to claim 1, wherein said first hook has an L shape pointing forward; and said second hook has an L shape pointing backward.
 7. The frame chair according to claim 1, wherein said first and second connecting blocks have open tubular channels, respectively, for the embedment of said loop stands' bottom edges; said channels have protrusions along lateral edges of top openings, respectively; correspondingly, bottom edges of said loop stands have indentations for receiving said protrusions; and, when said connecting blocks are snapped onto said loop stands, said protrusions engage said indentations.
 8. The frame chair according to claim 1, wherein said first connecting block and said second connecting block on a left loop stand of a first frame chair are locked with said second connecting block and said first connecting block on a right loop stand of a second frame chair adjacent to said first frame chair. 